Signal device



Aug. 11, 1925.

1,549,434 F. J. BENNETT SIGNAL DEVICE Filed June 10, 1924 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j'II/AIll I N VEN TOR.

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" mgzi Aug. 1 l, I 925..

F. J. BENNETT sierm. DEVICE Filed June 10, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

li atented ll, 192.5,

FREDERICK J. BENNETT, OI HOUSTON, TEXAS.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application f led June 10, 1824. Serial No. 719,106.

State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Signal Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful 0 improvements in a signal device.

tine object of the invention is to provide a pneumatically actuated signal device, or indicator, designed to be located at the end ot a street car in tront of the motorman, and connect-ed into the air line, and adapted to indicate the position of the door at the other end of the car, whether open or closed.

At the present time street railway cars are often operated by one man, who arts as motor-man and also collects the fares from passengers who enter the car at the front end. In order to hasten the loading of the cars, at congested centers, it is now becoming common practice to admit passengers into one man cars at the rear as well as at the front end and in such cases an extra man is employed to open the rear door and collect the "fares of those entering the car at the rear. lVhen the passengers have all entered at th rear, the rear door is then closed and the motorman is then given a signal to start. It is the object of this invention to provide a signal device whi h will automatically operate, when the door at the other end of thecar is closed, to notify the motorman to move ahead, .thus effecting a saving of time, and operating to speed up transportation of passengers.

lVith the above andother objects in view, this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1. shows a front elevation of the signal.

Figures 2 and 3 show transverse vertical sectional views, taken on planes at right angles to each other.

Figure 4 shows a horizontal sectional View 01 the street var with the signal device arranged at each end; and,

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary diagrammatic View of the air pressure system of said street car with the signal devices connected to the same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like num rals of reference designate similar parts in each or the figures, the numeral 1 designates a casing which is formed with brackets Qfor attachment to the wall or other convenient part of the car. The front wall of the casing has a transverse, transparent pane 3 therein. Threaded into the bottom of the casing there is a cylinder 1 whose lower end is reduced and formed with a tapped hole 5 to.

re eive the air pressure line 6. In the cylinder there is a plunger 7, of conventional form and attached to the plunger there is a plunger rod 8 which works through a central opening in the web 9 forming the bot tom 01" the casing. The upper end of the rod 8 carries a metallic plate 10. The upper part of the plate, as at 1 1, is painted preferably white, and the lower part, as 152, is preferably red or some other bright color. Surrounding the rod 8 and interposed between the plunger 7 and thewe'b 9 therefis a strong coil spring or other yieldable element, as 13, which normally operates to hold the white portion oi the signal plate 10in iront of the pane '3, andin view of the motorman.

The car shown is double ended; that is, it is provided witha door at each end, and is equipped, at each end, witha controller (not shown), so that the motor'man can operate the car at either end, and passengers may be admitted at either end. The doors are designated by the numerals 1 1,14, and they are of the folding type. Underneath the car adjacent each door there is what is commonly known as the door engine, or cylinder, designated by the numerals '15, 15. These are connected to the doors by a connecting mechanism well known and consequently not described in detail. The numerals 16, 16, designate the doorcontrol valves which control the main air line 17 leading from the main air reservoir and by means of which air is admittedto the corresponding door engine 15 through the lines 18, 1 8", to close or open the corresponding door. hen the door is open, air is also admitted to the brake cylinder 19, through the piping 20, to set the'brakes, and is also admitted through the pipeti into-the cylinder ofthe signal device, at the other end of the car;

The pressure will elevate the signal, and display the red signal to the motorman. When the door is closed the pressure will be relieved both from the bralres and from the cylinder t at the other end oi. the car, and the pressure of the spring 13 will lower the signal so as to show white through the pane 3 and the niotorman will thus be notified that the rear door is closedand it is sate to proceed.

The door control valve at the rear end of the car is operated by a man on the round, who operates the same to open the rear door to admit passengers and to close said door when the passengers, it that end, are all on board. The motorman at the front end of the car is at once notified as to the position of the door at the rear of the car, by the device herein described, and can safely and instantly start the car when the rear door is closed, thus saving much time in starting and avoiding the rislr 01" accidents.

hat I claim is 1. The combination with a street car hav ing a door at one end, of a signal arranged at the other end of the car, means adapted to be actuated by fluid under pressure for opening and closing said door, means adapted to be actuated by fluid under pressure for operating said signal, and, means for sup; plying fluid under pressure to each of sa d fluid pressure actuated means, whereby said door is opened and said signal simultaneously operated.

2. The combination with a street car, of a door therefor, a signal device on the car, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said door and signal device to open said door and simultaneously operate said signal de vice.

3. The combination with a street car, of a door therefor, a pneumatically operable means connected to said door, a signal device on the car, a pneumatically operable means connected to said device, inea tor supplying fluid pressure to each of said pneumatically operable means whereby the door is actuated into open position a said signal device is operated into one position.

4. The combination with a street car, 01": a door therefor, a pneumatically operable means connected to said door, a signal device on the car, a pneumatically operable means connected to said device, means for supplying fluid pressure to each or" said pneumatically operable means whereby the door is actuated into open position and said signal device is operated into one position, and means for actuating said signal device into another position when the fluid pressure is released from said door actuating means.

5. The combination with a street car, of a door therefor, pneumatically operable means connected to said door, a signal device on the car, a pneumatically operable means connected to said device, means for supplying fluid pressure to each of said pneumatically operable means whereby the door is actuated into open position and said signal device is operated into one position, means for releasing the pressure from each of said pneumatically operable means, and means for actuating said signal device into another position when said pressure is released.

6. The combination with. a street car, of a door one end thereof, pneumatical operable means connected to said door to actuate the same, a casing at the other en of the car having a window opening, a cylinder associated with said casing, a signal in the casing movable in front or" said window, a plunger in said cylinder connected to said signal, a fluid pressure line, valve controlling said line whereby fluid ni'ider pres sure may be admitted to said door actuating means and into said cylinder, to operate said door and signal simultaneously, when the valve is operated into one position.

.7. The combination with a street car, or a door therefor, pneun'iatically operable means connected to said door to actuate the same, a casing on the till having a window opening, a cylinder associated with said casing, a signal in the casing movable in front 0t. said window, a plunger in said cylinder connected to said signal, a fluid pressure line, a valve controlling said line whereby fluid under pressure may be admitted to said door actuating means and into said cylinder, to operate said door and sinmltane when the valve is operated into one on, and whereby may be released when the valve is operated into an-- other position.

8. The combination with a street car, ot a door therefor, pneumatically operable means connected to said door to act to the same. a casing on the ndow opening, a cylinder associated with said casa signal in the movable in trout of said window. a plunger in said cylinder connected to said signal. a fluid pressur nc, a valve controllingsaid line whereby liuid under pressure may be admitted tr said door actuating means and into said cylinder to operate said door, and signal sinrc taueously, when the valve is operated into one position, and. whereby said press u'za be released when the valve is operated into another position, and means for rcstorl j said signal to original position when said pressure is released.

In testimony whereofv I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERT it: I. BENNETT.

Witnesses E. V. HARDWAY, JOHN WM. PALMER- 

